Bracket assembly for snowmobile skis

ABSTRACT

A bracket assembly is mounted on a snowmobile ski runner for slidingly receiving one end of the main leaf of a leaf spring unit and includes: a retaining pin extending connected to the said one end; a sliding block defining a housing for receiving the said one end therein and having opposite side walls with aligned openings for receiving the retaining pin therethrough; and a cover fixed to the ski runner and having an open end for slidingly receiving the block therein, opposite side walls of the cover having longitudinally extending aligned slots allowing the opposite ends of the retaining pin to move freely relative to the cover. In a preferred form, the block is made of plastic material and is constructed to avoid direct contact between the retaining pin and the cover thereby greatly reducing wear and breakage of the parts.

United States Patent 1 Bombardier Jan. 22, 1974 [75] Inventor: Jerome Bombardier, Valcourt,

Quebec, Canada [73] Assignee: Bombardier Limited, Valcourt,

Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 316,727

[52] US. Cl. 180/5 R, 267/56, 280/25 [51] Int. Cl B62b 17/04 [58] Field of Search 180/3-6; 280/25; 267/56, 55, 54 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,002,632 5/1935 Gilpin 267/56 X 3,707,297 12/1972 Perreault 180/5 R 3,257,123 6/1966 Giovinazzo 267/56 X 1,580,540 4/1926 Shay 267/56 1,623,651 4/1927 Ayres i. 267/56 Primary ExaminerRichard J. Johnson Attorney, Agent, or FirmRoberts B. Larson et al.

[ 5 7 1 ABSTRACT A bracket assembly is mounted on a snowmobile ski runner for slidingly receiving one end of the main leaf of a leaf spring unit and includes: a retaining pin extending connected to the said one end; a sliding block defining a housing for receiving the said one end therein and having opposite side walls with aligned openings for receiving the retaining pin therethrough; and a cover fixed to the ski runner and having an open end for slidingly receiving the block therein, opposite side walls of the cover having longitudinally extending aligned slots allowing the opposite ends of the retaining pin to move freely relative to the cover. In a preferred form, the block is made of plastic material and is constructed to avoid direct contact between the retaining pin and the cover thereby greatly reducing wear and breakage of the parts.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 2 2 I974 SHEET 3 OF 2 I \h' H I .1 6 4 ag 555 in I: 74 4 64 44 18 82 84 BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR SNOWMOBILE SKIS This invention relates generally to snowmobile skis and, more particularly, to a bracket assembly for slidingly confining one end of the main leaf of the leaf spring unit of the ski assembly.

The connection of the leaf spring unit to the ski runner consists of a pair of longitudinally spaced bracket assemblies secured to the top surface of the ski runner. Generally, the rear end of the main leaf is fixed to one bracket while the front end is slidingly received in a second bracket in such a way as to allow elongation of the leaf upon depression thereof. This second bracket usually includes a transversely extending retaining pin fixed to the opposite side walls of a cover and under which the end of the leaf is allowed to slide.

One disadvantage of such bracket construction is that all components, being metallic, wear rapidly resulting in frequent breakage of the parts.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bracket assembly which overcomes the above disadvantage and improves the connection between the leaf spring unit and the ski runner. The invention consists in providing within the bracket assembly a sliding block, preferably made of plastic material, which slides with the elongation of the leaf and which is constructed so as to considerably reduce wear between the components.

The present invention therefore relates to a bracket assembly mounted on a snowmobile ski runner for slidingly receiving one end of the main leaf of a leaf spring unit, which bracket assembly comprises: in combination, a retaining pin means extending transversely of the ski runner and connected to the said end; a sliding block means having top and opposite side walls defining a first housing receiving therein the said end of the leaf, the opposite side walls having aligned openings receiving the retaining pin means therethrough; and a cover means fixedly mounted to the ski runner and having top and opposite side walls defining a second housing slidingly receiving therein the sliding block means, the side walls of the cover means having longitudinally extending aligned slots receiving the retaining pin means therethrough and allowing the pin means to move freely relative to the cover means.

In a preferred form of the invention, the retaining pin means is supported in the openings of the side walls of the block means; the elongated slots of the cover means have a larger opening than that of the side walls of the block means whereby there is no frictional contact between the retaining pin means and the side walls of the cover means.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the present invention will be in part obvious from the accompanying drawings and in part pointed out as the description of the invention progresses.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged elevational view of the front end of a snowmobile showing part of the snowmobile body and part of the snowmobile ski assembly;

FIG. 2 is a further enlarged elevational view of the bracket assembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4 4 of FIG. 3; and 1 FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the block means made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a ski assembly 10 which is adapted to be mounted underneath the front end of a snowmobile body 12 to provide the steering movement of the snowmobile. The ski assembly 10 is pivotally mounted at the lower end of a ski leg 14 linked to the steering column (not shown) of the vehicle. There are usually two of these assemblies mounted in laterally spaced relation supporting the front end of the snowmobile body; however, some snowmobiles are steered with only one ski, centrally disposed at the front thereof. In addition to providing steering of the vehicle, these ski assemblies also serve to absorb the shock imparted to the front end of the vehicle.

Generally, the ski assembly 10 consists of a leaf spring unit 16 longitudinally extending over a ski runner 18. The leaf spring unit 16 is arched semielliptically and includes at least a main leaf 20. Such leaf spring unit 16 might also include one or more reinforcing leaves such as shown as part 22 in FIG. 1 and a rubber travel stop bumper 24a bonded or otherwise fixed on a short leaf 24. Main spring leaf 20 is full length and has its opposite front and rear ends 20a and 20b respectively received in bracket assemblies 26 and 28. In most snowmobiles, the rear end20b of the main leaf 20 is curved into a sleeve (not shown) which surrounds a transversely extending retaining pin 34 fixed between the side walls of the rear bracket assembly 28. An example of such bracket assemblies may be found in applicants copending Canadian application Ser. No. 097,634 filed Nov. 6, 1970. As mentioned above, the type of front bracket used has many disadvantages.

The present invention provides a novel bracket assembly 26 which comprises a cover 36, usually made of metal and having a top wall 38, an inclined front wall 40 (to which is welded a bent pull bar 32) and a pair of opposite straight side walls 42 and 44. Cover 36 is fixedly secured, such as by welding, to the top face of the ski runner 18 which also has a downward central portion 30 to which is mounted generally a skate (not shown). The opposite side walls 42 and 44 of the cover are respectively provided with aligned elongated slots 48 and 50 extending in the longitudinal direction of the ski. The rearmost edges of the top and side walls define an open end 46 to receive the front end 20a of the main leaf 20.

Confined within the housing of the cover 36 to allow displacement of front end 20a therein as a result of elongation of main leaf spring 20 upon depression thereof, is a hollow block 56 made of plastic material, such as polyethylene, and adapted to slide on a plate 58 fixedly secured to the top face of the ski runner 18. The block 56 includes a top wall 60, an inclined front wall 62 and a pair of opposite straight side walls 64 and 66. The block 56 further includes an open end 68 to receive the rounded extremity 70 of the main leaf 20. Side walls 64 and 66 of the block 56 are respectively provided with aligned circular openings 72, 74.

A retaining pin 52 extends transversely of the bracket assembly and protrudes through slot 50, opening 74,

rounded extremity 70, opening 72 and slot 48. The pin is held in this arrangement by means of a cotter pin 54 and washer 55.

In a preferred form of the invention, the vertical opening of slots 48 and 50 of the cover is slightly greater than the diameter of openings 72 and 74 of the block whereby the retainingpin 52 is supported only by the side walls of the block and contact between pin 52 and the side walls of the cover is avoided.

In another preferred form of the invention, the front wall 62 of the block 56 is shaped to correspond to the inner face of the front wall 40 of the cover and is constructed with a certain thickness so that it prevents pin 52 from reaching the front extremities of the slots, such as extremity 76 of slot 50 in FIG. 4, again avoiding direct contact between the pin and the cover which are both .made of metal.

In another form of the invention, the lower edge of each side wall 64, 66 of the block has a groove 78, 80 to receive correspondingly-shaped flange portions 82, 84 on opposite sides of the plate 58 thereby allowing proper sliding and guiding movement of the block inside the housing of cover 36. I

The assembly of bracket 26 on the ski runner is simple. First, plate 58 and cover 36 are welded onto the top face of ski runner 18. Then, block 56 is slidingly positioned inside cover 36 between the flange portions 82 and 84 of plate 58. The end portion 20a of the leaf spring 20 is inserted through the open end 68 of the block. Then, the retaining pin 52 is inserted through openings 50, 74, 72 and 48 thereof and is held in place by cotter pin 54. Hence, the leaf spring 20 is connected to the ski runner and, upon depression of the leaf spring, the block 56 slides on plate 58. The travel of block 56 on plate 58 terminates with the termination of the depression or by front wall 62 of the block contacting the inclined front wall of the cover or any other means which could be provided inside the cover to stop the displacement of the block therein.

Although the invention has been described above in relation to specific forms of the invention, it will be evident to the man skilled in the art that it may be refined and modified in various ways. It is therefore wished to have it understood that the present invention is not limited in interpretation except by the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

I. In a snowmobile having a ski assembly pivotally attached to the front end thereof and including a ski runner and a leaf spring unit, a bracket assembly for slidingly receiving on said ski runner one end of a leaf of said spring leaf unit, the other end being fixed to said ski runner, comprising: in combination, a retaining pin means extending transversely of the ski runner and connected to said one end of said spring leaf; a sliding block means having top and opposite side walls defining a first housing receiving said one end of said leaf therein, said opposite side walls having aligned openings receiving said retaining pin means therethrough; and a cover means fixedly mounted to the ski runner and having top and opposite side walls defining a second housing for siidingly receiving therein said sliding block means, said side walls of said cover means being provided with longitudinally extending aligned slots re ceiving said retaining pin means therethrough and allowing said retaining pin means to move freely relative to said cover means.

2. In a snowmobile as defined in claim 1 wherein the aligned slots of said cover means have a vertical opening greater than that of said openings of said sliding block means whereby said retaining pin means is supported by said side walls of said block means thereby avoiding frictional contact with the side walls of said cover means.

3. In a snowmobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover means includes a front wall and wherein said block means includes a correspondingly-shaped front wall; said front wall of said block means being constructed to contact said front wall of said cover means prior to said pin means from contacting said side walls of said cover means when said leaf is depressed.

4. In a snowmobile as defined in claim I further comprising a sliding plate means fixed to the ski runner within the side walls of said cover means and slidingly receiving said block means thereon.

5. In a snowmobile as defined in claim 4, wherein said sliding plate means includes guiding flange means cooperating with longitudinal grooves in the side walls of said block means for guiding said block means when sliding.

6. In a snowmobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said block means are made of plastic material.

Patent No. 3,786,886 Dated Januar; 22, 1974 Inventor) Jerome Bombardier It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet the following should be added:

-- [5Q] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 15, 1972 Canada 159,1h3

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of September 197 (SEAL) Attest:

MoCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer 7 Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-OSO (10-69) USCOMWDC wand,"

v: u.s, eovnrmzu-r manna cmce nu o-au-au, 

1. In a snowmobile having a ski assembly pivotally attached to the front end thereof and including a ski runner and a leaf spring unit, a bracket assembly for slidingly receiving on said ski runner one end of a leaf of said spring leaf unit, the other end being fixed to said ski runner, comprising: in combination, a retaining pin means extending transversely of the ski runner and connected to said one end of said spring leaf; a sliding block means having top and opposite side walls defining a first housing receiving said one end of said leaf therein, said opposite side walls having aligned openings receiving said retaining pin means therethrough; and a cover means fixedly mounted to the ski runner and having top and opposite side walls defining a second housing for slidingly receiving therein said sliding block means, said side walls of said cover means being provided with longitudinally extending aligned slots receiving said retaining pin means therethrough and allowing said retaining pin means to move freely relative to said cover means.
 2. In a snowmobile as defined in claim 1 wherein the aligned slots of said cover means have a vertical opening greater than that of said openings of said sliding block means whereby said retaining pin means is supported by said side walls of said block means thereby avoiding frictional contact with the side walls of said cover means.
 3. In a snowmobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover means includes a front wall and wherein said bLock means includes a correspondingly-shaped front wall; said front wall of said block means being constructed to contact said front wall of said cover means prior to said pin means from contacting said side walls of said cover means when said leaf is depressed.
 4. In a snowmobile as defined in claim 1 further comprising a sliding plate means fixed to the ski runner within the side walls of said cover means and slidingly receiving said block means thereon.
 5. In a snowmobile as defined in claim 4, wherein said sliding plate means includes guiding flange means cooperating with longitudinal grooves in the side walls of said block means for guiding said block means when sliding.
 6. In a snowmobile as defined in claim 1 wherein said block means are made of plastic material. 